SEMI Testifies in Support of U.S. Manufacturing Legislation before House Science Committee’s Subcommittee on Research and Technology

WASHINGTON, D.C. — December 12, 2013
— SEMI, the global trade organization representing the nano-
and micro- electronic manufacturing supply chains, today urged Congress to
support efforts to revitalize America’s manufacturing sector. SEMI vice president of Global Advocacy
Jonathan Davis provided testimony before the Subcommittee on Research and
Technology of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space,
and Technology.

The subcommittee chaired by Congressman Larry Bucshon (R-IN)
held the hearing on “Building a Network for Manufacturing Innovation.” The
hearing focused on H.R. 2996, the “Revitalize American Manufacturing and
Innovation Act of 2013” (RAMI), which was recently introduced by Congressman Tom
Reed (R-NY) and Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy, III (D-MA).

The bill creates Centers for Manufacturing Innovation (CMI)
to address challenges in advanced manufacturing and focus on manufacturing
processes, new materials or technologies, and supply chain methodologies. CMIs
will include active participation from industry, research universities,
community colleges, and other entities. Activities of the CMIs include research
and development, proof-of-concept and prototyping, and reducing the cost, time,
and risk of commercialization of new technologies and processes. CMIs will also
develop education and training programs and conduct outreach and engagement
with small and mid-size businesses.

Stan A. Veuger, Ph.D., resident scholar,
American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research

A second panel included testimony from House of
Representative legislation co-authors Reps. Reed and Kennedy.

Jonathan Davis of SEMI said that
important elements of the legislation included provisions to bolster U.S.
manufacturing by bridging the gap between basic research and product
development through the establishment of public-private centers for
manufacturing innovation. The centers will bring together industry,
universities and community colleges, federal agencies and all levels of
government to accelerate manufacturing innovation in technologies with
commercial applications.

“SEMI supports this bill as a useful
and constructive mechanism for the federal government to strengthen advanced
manufacturing in the United States,” said Davis. “It’s our hope that Congress
will find the correct balance so that worthy public policy objectives such as
H.R. 2996 can be debated and implemented.”

SEMI is the global industry
association serving the nano- and microelectronics manufacturing supply
chains. Our 1,900 member companies are the engine of the future, enabling
smarter, faster and more economical products that improve our lives. Since
1970, SEMI has been committed to helping members grow more profitably, create
new markets and meet common industry challenges. SEMI maintains offices in
Bangalore, Beijing, Berlin, Brussels, Grenoble, Hsinchu, Moscow, San Jose,
Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Tokyo, and Washington, D.C. For more
information, visit www.semi.org.